The dark store tax loophole allows big box retailers to base their tax assessments on shuttered stores, giving them millions of dollars in tax breaks. This is shifting the taxes to already-strained homeowners and local small businesses. And it’s hitting the Fox Valley hard.

Sen. Roth isn’t just in the majority party, he’s the Senate President. If anyone had the power to get this done, it was him.

Even when Democrats brought forward the bill on the Senate floor, Sen. Roth used his powers as president to shut down debate and refused to allow the Senate to discuss or vote on the bill.

Our local communities need this loophole closed. The Outagamie County Board unanimously approved adding a referendum to the November ballot asking voters if the state Senate and Assembly should support closing the loophole. More counties in our region are expected to do the same. Let’s use that November ballot to send a message that we want this loophole closed, and we don’t want Sen. Roth to represent us anymore.